Chrysoesthia halymella (Amsel, 1935)

Fig. 42

Chrysophora halymella Amsel & Hering, 1931 —Dt. ent. Z. Iris 1931: 124, pl. 2, fig. 11 (nomenclatorially unavailable). Chrysophora halymella Amsel, 1935 — Mus. Berl. 20 (2): 302.

Records. Amsel & Hering 1931: 124; Amsel 1933: 126; Amsel 1935a: 302; Amsel 1935c: 264; Bodenheimer 1937: 101. Material examined. 1 ♀, “Georgskloster, Atriplex haly ., 21.4.1930., Z. 293” | “ Palästina Expedition, 18.2- 4.6.1930, H.G. Amsel” | “ Typus, leg. H. Amsel “(SMNK).

Host-plant. Atriplex halymus L. (Amsel & Hering 1931: 124; Amsel 1935a: 302).

Distribution. Israel.

Remarks. Chrysophora halymella was first described from a few leaf mines found in early April. The description dealt only with the leaf mine, although it is apparent from the text that some moths emerged (“Die Puppenruhe dauerte etwa 8 bis 10 Tage” [=the pupation rest lasted about eight to ten days]). The description by Amsel & Hering (1931) is nomenclatorially invalid according to ICZN (1999: article 13.6.2), stating: “A name proposed after 1930 which is based on the work of an extant animal is excluded from zoological nomenclature [Art. 1.3.6]”. Chrysophora halymella was later made nomenclatorially available by Amsel (1935a: 302).

According to the original description, an unstated number of specimens were bred from Atriplex halymus L. in Georgskloster 21.iv. The single female in SMNK labelled as “type” should be considered as a syntype.